Manila, 2009





I'm not even sure if i spelled that one right. But i basically had some "technical" issues with how i shot this one. There was some sort of discoloration across the face that becomes more apparent in weak lighting conditions. i took this one ISO100, btw, so it's not quite noise but just your average splotchy skin type. and high res cams just seem to really pick up on every unflattering detail.

Anyway, I liked the composition so I thought it was worth taking a different tack on this in PS. My first time to do this. i've seen better hi key photos but this seemed to work... at least better than the original.

I worked with two layers here that basically involved overexposing the top layer that just left hair and maybe a bit of eye detail. and then adjusting the brightness level of the other at something like +50.

Then with a mask, I used a brush with 10% opacity and clicked ever so slightly on the areas that I wanted detail to come out. The nose part was tricky as I had to imagine where it was in the overexposed layer to draw out its outline without overdoing it to include unwanted discolored detail.

A bit of dodging was done after I flattened the layer to clean the face up a bit.

I have some minor nitpick with the blurred ear and black hair on that part of the image but it's the best that I could do given the situation.

i remember a friend of mine saying that shooting hi key makes for flattering subjects and the girls will love you for it. hahaha!!!

cheers.

nt

all this "chasing" is getting a bit stale. And tiring

but imho not 'high key' enough for me. To me, high key is more about blowing out details to emphasize (in this case), lines and important key elements on the face. I think the lines below the eyes could still be worked one. In high key, the trick is to go crazy at first by blowing everything out and then slowly pulling it back to show some details.

Regards
Kelvin

And tricky to do with a face vis-a-vis other subject matters

I have to try this, but I'm out of luck with models. Very nice, Echi, what the text really expresses is the perfectionist in you. BTW, remind The model how lucky she is

I have the eye for detail but then I just throw my hands up in the air in surrender when you're already too far into the process only to realize that there's still that missing 5%.

The guys who go for that 5%, they're the ones who get paid the big bucks.

I guess the text is more about the compromises that we often times make in pursuit of the "perfect" photograph. Even our standards get put into question. We say this and that but let it go at times when it comes to our own work simply because it's too much work to go back and "redo" the process.

Going further, I could probably systematize my workflow to make for easy corrections but I just get really sucked in the moment. Every photograph, to me, has a different rhythm and my approaches will always be different depending on the mood and the "music". Imagine how you would approach a lady in a dance floor. Not always the same. There might be that time when you want to go around her before taking her hand. Or perhaps draw her close to you right away pulling her from the small of her back. I really just get lost.

Hehehe, i'll keep your last statement in mind

there's no such thing as a perfect photograph. Or anything else for that matter. I think Plato knew that very well.

but if I was of a mind nitpick (an it really is down to the nits) then...

Nice that you kept the wrist watch in the same focal plane as the eyes. Some might question the hair over her right eye and thus no highlight visible. BUT, great sharpness in her visible eye including the iris and highlight. Of course she has nice features and knows how to hold her hands (fingers). The detail of the softness in the OOF areas (shoulder / blouse) works well. That little darkness on the right edge of the image could be a little distraction. Good crop selection.

Brand or fashion watch?

Now try and duplicate this effect with the camera only

Same person as your Bokeh post, hope to see her more often.

Casey

I think I shot this at 1.8. If I realized I was shooting at ISO100, I would've bumped it up to 400 and maybe shot her at 5.6 which is said to be the 85 1.2L's sweet spot.

Definitely a fashion watch. And, yes, the same person as in the previous post. I thought I'd do a walkabout with her as subject for my 5D2